Exiled S. Sudanese back interim government without Kiir, Machar

March 3, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) - South Sudanese living in neighboring Ethiopia say they fully support the formation of an interim government that excludes both President Salva Kiir and his ex-deputy Riek Machar, who now leads a rebellion against the government.

Members of the delegation opposed to the South Sudanese government, including Grang Demebiar (second on left) and the son of late Sudanese politician John Garang, attend talks on 4 January 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo: Jacy Fortin/AFF/Getty)

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is mediating between the country’s ruling SPLM and the SPLM/A in Opposition, has put on the table a proposal for the formation of an interim administration as part of efforts to end the 10-week-long conflict.

The proposal is, however, silent as to whether or not the interim government would exclude or include the two influential leaders.

But at a meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last weekend, the South Sudanese community discussed the current situation in their country as well as the ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the conflict, which has killed an estimated 10,000 people and displaced 695,200 people within the world’s youngest nation. An additional 190,000 have fled the new nation into neighbouring countries, with 54,000 in Ethiopia.

In a statement, the group said, "Our interest as nation should be to build enduring relationships with our fellow citizens that are characterized by mutual respect, fighting a common enemy and for a common goal and long term commitment. Our enemy is the one who deny us any of our rights whether they are from within or out."

Participants stressed that President Kiir, whose forces are accused of targeting civilians in Juba during the first days of the conflict, must leave power if democratic rights and human rights of South Sudanese are to thrive.

"The president doesn’t just deserve to leave power but not to live this life because he is by no means better than the innocent persons whom he denied their right to live, let alone the basic services he didn’t provide to their demand for the last nine years" said Nyapieth Lonny, one of the community members.

With regard to internally displaced persons, another participant, John Luate, accused Kiir’s government of deceiving them to return home but they allegedly ended up being slaughtered in cold blood.

Lonny further said that the cessation of hostility signed on 23 January and the peace talks in general are not doing any good on the ground and these violations that neglected the aspiration of the people would eventually jeopardise the implementation of the whole peace process.

The group said South Sudan needs an interim government without both President Kiir and rebel leader, Machar. The political ambitions and personal animosity between the two, and the echoes of the current conflict has reawakened Machar’s previous split from the SPLM/A in 1991 during the civil war. As such, many have argued that these key hurdles need to resolved to pave way for peace and reconciliation.

South Sudan should adopt a federal and decentralised system whereby the sovereign power is invested in the hands of people and the rule of law is given an interim constitutional protection, the diaspora group said.

The group accused both pro and anti-government forces of committing atrocities, saying the government’s genocidal force that dragged innocent people from their residential houses in Juba cannot be pardoned by any law.

One of the speakers, Deng Achuoth shouted: "We cannot buy in any lie that states that atrocities were committed by both sides. Things should be traced from their causes not their effects!"

Achouth added the accountability for the mass killing and property looted in Juba has to be the starting point for the settlement of the conflict followed by the events in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile, where the conflict quickly spread to.

Sudan Tribune understands that some 2,000 South Sudanese took part at the meeting.

(ST)

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4 March 2014 06:37, by Majongdit

The Nuer can at hard times be Ethiopians of Gambella, some other tribes can be Ugandans or Congolese but the Dinka even at hardest times remain Dinka. Who put them exile? There was peace from 2005. There was independence since 2011, why did they remain in exile? Americans plus their compatriots in Ethiopia should not be playing with our minds. No Kiir, No Peace!

This Ethiopian led IGAD has completely lost direction. We are asking for "Interim Government" in Ethiopia that has to exclude the Prime Minister to be formed with inclusion of Islamic rebels only. IGAD want to estabilsh chaos in East African Community. Let Interim Government be formed in Kenya that exlucdes Uhuruto because there was dispute about the results of the last general elections.

The so-called group meeting is purely Nuers, no any other tribes who fled to Ethiopia. Nuers always going to Ethiopia pretending to be Nuer - Gajaak of Ethiopia and again now twisted themselves to be exiles, shame on them...

2,000 people met??? What a big lie! Show us the picture of that meeting. The article is fake. I have talked to many people and said there was no such meeting. It was faked by a few from Bor community I was told. They want to promote the third bloc and devilish both Mrs. Akiir Museveni and Riek Machar, believing they will take power on golden plate. Shame on you guys...

yes
i agree with the point that was brought up by IGAD AUTHORITY .both two
can go out very soon.no riek machar.no He Salva kiir mayardit.let them
give room to other because they fail to rule south sudan.

Kiir and riek must go and so as militias generals that are prone to defection. All the arrested and released leaders must all quit politics. We only need civilians leaders to take over the government. Spla/ssaf must be desolve and retrain again. We must only allow professional army to take charge of the nation. All tribal spla must go.

This Gambela Nuers are Ethiopians. It isn’t Nuers whose sections are citizens of neighboring countries. The Madi, Acholi, Kakwa, Azande, ... etc are in Uganda, DRC & CAR respectively. However, they don’t interfere with S. Sudan affairs. If Ethiopian Nuers are mad as those of S.S. then it is irrecovery genetic disorder. What do them want?

Sudan Tribune is just creating lies, there was no such meeting in Ethiopia, just promoting rebels interest. The son of John Garang is not:(Grang Demabier), I have never heard such name, such means these are lies written from nowhere

Hahahah,bro.Is true there is no name like that may be Nuer’s name.Is Mii dit who wrote that name as he poorly edited this message.Lets Nuers form their interim government in Ethiopia as they are Ethiopian’s Nuers not South Sudanese.

Whereas the heart and blood of every human being is red in color, however, yours is black. So you are black from skin to heart and blood.
Okay! Go ahead and determine your political fate. Nobody arrests you.

Sorry for all nonsenses being stated by Cavainism(Dinka),
Don’t you know Gajang Awuol? he was in Pugnido since 1993 up to 2007. He is pure cavanism.
Kirr will be out from the gov’t ohterwise, you see the consequences

Rediculous enouogh! Cannibalism? People eating human flesh? People eating flesh (meat of a dead person) of their own brothers/sisters and friends! They are there in that jungle of S. Sudan - Ethiopia? They are refugees? Why? Do they fear arrest for the crime they commit? And there is somebody proud of cannibalism, calling himself S. Sudanese searching 4 democracy? This makes me luagh loud.

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